Preparation and performance study of hydrophobic fumed silica loaded with BTA/epoxy composite coating

Multifunctional anti-corrosive coatings are a key focus in the development of modern coatings. In this study, the corrosion inhibitor benzotriazole (BTA) was loaded onto fumed silica (SiP) through physical adsorption, and then the surface of SiP was modified with octadecyl trimethylsilane (OTMS) to create a modified fumed silica supported by BTA (BTA-SiP@OTMS). The resulting sample was blended with epoxy resin to create a composite coating with both anti-corrosive and hydrophobic properties. The OTMS modification effectively covers the surface of the fumed silica, transforming the composite coating from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. This hydrophobicity prevents the penetration of corrosive mediums. The addition of BTA-SiP@OTMS significantly increases the impedance value of the composite coating, indicating improved corrosion resistance. Due to its hydrophobic and anti-corrosion properties, the composite coating shows promising potential in weather-resistant coatings.